Eye strain at the office can be stressful. You feel yourself risking discomfort because you have work to do. If you address the eye strain, you reduce your ability to get work done productively. If you blaze ahead with spreadsheets, reports, calculations, or other tasks, you can make the eye strain worse. Repeated eye strain can often be addressed with a few adjustments to your space, and an eye exam may also be needed.
Here's what to do to help minimize office eye strain:
Are online eye exams effective? They can be in some ways, but they fall very short of the mark in others. There are things that simply can't be done online. They have to be done by a licensed eye doctor. It's actually pretty remarkable that online eye exams exist at all, but it's also very important to recognize exactly what their limitations are. They are of less quality and they are less capable than an in-person exam. Let's talk about what online eye exams do before talking about what they can't do.
Folks don't usually think of eye exams as regular appointments. Eye exams are usually less frequent than doctor's check-ups and visits to the dentist, and people already forget these last two all the time! That means it's no surprise when you let an eye exam get delayed - perhaps year after year. This can be dangerous, though.
People are passionate about their eyes. In our thirty years of serving Asheville, we have received many unique questions and heard countless concerns related to vision, eye care, glasses and contacts, corrective surgeries, dry eyes, allergies, and many other eye-related topics. The most important way you can find answers for your concerns is by asking your trusted optometrist; nevertheless, we will begin addressing some of the most common questions through our blog. In this article, we will address six common eye concerns:
When the temperature is bitter and the air is crisp, you may feel like your eyelids blinking rarely bring the tears you expect. As winter progresses into early spring, you may feel like you never stop scratching your eyes. Without relief, dry, itchy eyes can affect your life and your mood. There may be more to your dry eyes than just weather, pollen, and mountain air. In this article, we will discuss common causes of dry eyes, how to prevent or treat those causes, and how to determine when it is time to see an optometrist.
You’re busy! There is always something on your to-do list: work, meetings to attend, football games and school plays to watch, children to cheer on, dinner to make, bills to pay, family to visit… the list goes on and on! But have you been too busy to schedule an eye exam?
How often do you need to have your vision checked, and should you clear some space on your schedule soon for this important appointment?
They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. When you live near Asheville, those windows let in plenty of pollen. Adding dust, molds, and pet dander to the mix can make for a long spring… and summer… and fall.
While the region offers endless beauty and stunning scenery, nature can take a toll on our eyes. Our fair state can seem unfair if you’re prone to allergies and sensitive to irritants! In fact, North Carolina is one of the “worst” states when it comes to allergies — and staring at screens for work and entertainment only stresses our eyes more.
How do our eyes respond to these attacks — and what can you do if common allergens and irritants cause more than common discomfort and trouble?
- Sunscreen ✓
- Cold Drinks ✓
- Frisbees and volleyballs ✓
- Burgers and dogs for the BBQ ✓
- A trashy novel to read at the beach ✓
You’re almost ready for a day of fun in the sun. Just don’t forget your sunglasses!
Surrounded by mile-high mountains and rich with culture, Asheville is one of the fastest growing areas in North Carolina. Asheville’s population has increased nearly 25% since 2000, while Buncombe County has added 50,000 people since 2000. As new residents discover how great our city is, we want to help make sure you find the right eye care professional. We are offering a free e-book guide to help new residents find great healthcare professionals and optometrists.
How to Find a New Doctor, Dentist or Optometrist
In addition to incredible beauty, cultural amenities, and excellent educational systems, western North Carolina benefits from nearby medical universities and the presence of Mission Health System. Nevertheless, finding new physicians, dentists, and eye care professionals is always difficult when moving to a new city.
Whether you are moving to or from Asheville, or anywhere else, you may be dreading the process of finding new physicians, optometrists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals. In this short e-book, we discuss six key tips for finding a new eye care professional.
To download the guide, follow this link and fill out the short contact form.
The path of totality for the Great American Eclipse crossed just west of Asheville, NC. Our area saw millions upon millions of tourists passing through our area toward Franklin, Sylva, Murphy, and Andrews. Even for those not in the path of totality, protecting your eyes while viewing the eclipse was something to be taken seriously.
After viewing the eclipse with potentially unapproved glasses she borrowed, one woman in Staten Island reported seeing a weird dark spot in her vision that has sense taken the shape of a crescent.
We were among several experts urging eclipse watchers and chasers across the country to make sure they protect their eyes with approved, viewing glasses. Now that a few months have passed, unfortunately there have been cases of people expressing concern regarding their eye sight and the eclipse.
In this article, we will discuss signs you may have damaged your vision during the eclipse, and what you can do about it.
Did I Damage My Eyes Viewing the Eclipse?
The sun's light was magnified by the passing moon such that it could have damaged your eyesight, even if you did not look directly at the eclipse itself. As the moon passed over the sun, even if you were not in the path of totality, you likely experienced darkness and cooler temperatures. If you were in the path of totality, you may have seen the corona, the especially bright shimmer immediately before the moon totally deflected the sun’s light.
From moments to months after the event, people who viewed it reported noticing various symptoms of damaged vision due looking at the eclipse without proper glasses, or glasses perhaps falling off of their faces. Signs and symptoms of eclipse-damaged vision include:
- Frequent Headaches: Frequent headaches may themselves be a symptom, or squinting from reduced vision may lead to the headaches.
- Blurred Vision: If you suddenly or slowly blurred since the eclipse, you should schedule an appointment with an optometrist.
- Color Confusion: If you have developed difficulty discerning colors, it could be a result of the eclipse.
- Sensitivity to Light: You are squinting more than before you viewed the eclipse.
- Seeing Shapes, Spots, Holes: If your vision is now obstructed by dark spots or shapes, it could be a result of eclipse related damage.
- Loss of Central Vision: If you are having trouble focusing on your vision, it could be a result of seeing more of the eclipse than you meant to.
- Wavy or Distorted Vision: Your vision seems as if you are seeing humidity waves, even when they are not present.
- Pain: If you have eye pain emanating from the day of the eclipse, consult an optometrist immediately.
These signs or others could indeed be indicative of vision damage due to viewing the eclipse.
I Have the Signs, What Should I Do About My Vision?
Whether you experience those or other symptoms after the eclipse, or just in general, it is important to consult your eye doctor. Your optometrist will be able to help determine whether it is eclipse related, and exactly what course of treatment will be necessary. Do not panic, but do take seriously any new developments with your vision. If you are in the Asheville area, Asheville Vision Associates would be happy to help you take care of your eyes.